Paper napkin dispensing cabinet



Oct. 17. 1933. a N, HOPE 1,930,805

PAPER NAPKIN DISPENSING CABINET Filed Aug. 29, 1930 10 Fr. 1 zo "FIG. 2 17% W/ TNESSES &

//VV VTO/E 16 Z 1 I I M- i, (WW I p NTTOENEV Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PAPER NAPKIN DISPENSINGCABINET Samuel N. Hope, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Griffith-Hope Company, West Allis, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 29, 1930. Serial No. 478,627

4 Claims. (01. 31261) The invention relates to'cabinets for dispensing paper napkins and the like, and has for an object to provide a dispensing cabinet which is or" simple and durable construction capable of economical manufacture, and which presents a pleasing appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing cabinet embodying a pressure plate which can be readily mounted in operative position without requiring permanent attachment of the spring thereof to the cabinet.

A further object of the invention is to form the dispensing opening of the cabinet in such manner as to facilitate the removal of napkins and to avoid danger of tearing the napkins.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a paper napkin dispensing cabinet embodying the invention, one of the pressure plates being shown in a passing position of its insertion;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the cabinet showing one of the dispensing openings;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a lower corner portion of one of the pressure plates, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the anchorage of the spring to one of the pressure plates.

In the drawing, the cabinet is shown to include a rectangular container which is open at opposite sides for dispensing folded paper napkins 11 from two packs. The container is formed of a sheet metal plate 12 of inverted U-shape, to the lower inner sides of which are welded the upstanding flanges 13 of a bottom plate 14. Rubber feet 15 are secured to the bottom plate. The inverted U-shaped plate 12 is provided at opposite marginal portions with inturned flanges 16 and 17 to define the side edges and upper edges of dispensing openings 18 therewithin, and the bottom plate 14 is provided with upstanding flanges 19 defining the lower edges of these openings. The flanges 16, 1'7 and 19 about the openings 18 are in abutment with the foremost napkins of the two packs within the cabinet. The inner edges of the flanges l6 and 17 are curved outwardly. At the upper corners of the dispensing openings are large rounded recesses 20 which facilitate the withdrawal of the napkins. Edges of the recesses 20 extend for some distance close to and subview of the stantially parallel to the top and side walls of i the container.

Within the cabinet is a vertical partition 21 which separates the cabinet intotwo compartments, theupper edge of the partition being dis posed slightly above the middle of the cabinet interior. At its lower edge the partitionis provided with a flange 22 which is-welded within a downwardly embossed portion of the bottom plate 14 in order to lie flush with the upper surface of the bottom wall, and at its sides the partition is provided with flanges 23 which are welded to the side walls of the container.

A sheet metal pressure plate or follower 24 bears against the inner side of each pack of 3 paper napkins 11 to urge them outwardly. An embossment 25 is formed on each pressure plate to bulge the pack slightly outwardly for facility in removing the napkins. The edges of the plate are curved rearwardly, and the lower edges of the plate have spaced lugs 26 adapted to engage the bottom wall of the container. A wide thin leaf spring 27 has its upper end anchored to the central upper portions of the pressure plate by lugs 28 on the plate. The leaf spring 27 is bowed Q rearwardly with its intermediate portion in engagement with the partition 21, and the lower end of the spring has a curved lip which slidably bears on the central lower portions of the pressure plate. Each pressure plate is thus urged .3 forwardly with substantially equal pressure at its upper and lower portions, and presses the pack of napkins against the flanges 16, 1'7 and 19 in readiness to be dispensed through the opening 18.

Each pressure plate and its spring form a unitary assembly which is not fastened to the container, thereby greatly facilitating manufacturing operations. The plate is introduced into the container by inserting its upper portion first through one of the wide corner recesses 20 and by holding the plate in skewed position, as indicated in Fig. 1. It is difficult to remove the plate from the container, which discourages tampering. When. the plate is pushed rearwardly upon the introduction of a pack of napkins into the cabinet the plate rises by reason of the partial unbending of the spring and the frictional engagement of the spring with the partition, thus keeping the lower edge of the plate free of the Q05 bottom of the cabinet for a large part of the v plate movement to reduce friction.

The relatively large rounded recesses 20 at the upper corners of the dispensing openings permit the napkins to be pulled out of the cabinet in any direction, and at any speed, without danger of tearing, and also facilitate the passage of packs of napkins through the openings when loading the cabinet.

What I claim as new and Letters Patent is:

1. A sheet dispensing cabinet comprising a container adapted to receive a pack of sheets therein and having a dispensing opening, a follower plate for said pack, and a bowed leaf spring having one end portion fixedly secured to said plate and having its other end portion slidably bearing against said plate, the intermediate portion of said spring having a reaction'abutment. with an interior part of said container, said. plate and attached spring forming a unit assembly insertible into said container through said dispensing opening, and said spring after reaching its operative position in said container being unattached to said container. 7

2. A sheet dispensing cabinet comprising a container adapted to receive a. pack of sheets therein and having a dispensing opening, a follower plate for said pack, and a bowed leaf spring having one end portion fixedly secured to the upper portion of said plate and having its other end portion slidably bearing against the lower portion of said plate, the intermediate portion of said spring having a reaction abutment with an interior part of said container and elevating said plate above the bottom of the container during desire to secure by the greater part of its travel, said plate and attached spring forming a unit assembly insertible into said container through said dispensing opening, and said spring after reaching its operative position in said container being unattached to said container.

3. A sheet dispensing cabinet,- compnsing a container adapted to receive a pack of sheets therein and having a dispensing opening for said sheets, a follower plate for said pack, and a bowed leaf spring secured to said follower plate and having opposite end portions bearing thereagainst one end portion of said spring being fastened to said follower plate and the other end portion being slidably engageable with said plate, an intermediate portion of said spring having an unattached reaction abutment with an interior part of said container.

4. A sheet dispensing cabinet comprising a containerhaving dispensing openings at opposite sidiw and adapted. to receive: two packs of sheets, a support. secured said container between said, openings at of follower plates: for said respective: packs, and a of bowed leaf. springs V secured to said respective plates to, form a. pair of wemhlies. insertible throughsaid respective dispensing openings, said springs having unattaehed reaction abutmentsa with opposite sides of. support.

SAMUELv N. HOPE.

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